» step

Words people most associate with “step”:

  1. up,
  2. stairs,
  3. ladder,
  4. stair,
  5. stool

[via wordassociation.org]

Noun (11 meanings)

1. any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal.

measure, step

Examples:
  • “the situation called for strong measures”,
  • “the police took steps to reduce crime”
step is a type of:
types of step:

2. the distance covered by a step.

footstep, pace, step, stride

Example:
  • “he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig”
step is a type of:
step is derivationally related to:
  • to pace, step (verb) - measure (distances) by pacing
  • to pace (verb) - walk with slow or fast paces
  • to pace (verb) - go at a pace
  • to step (verb) - shift or move by taking a step
  • to step, tread (verb) - put down or press the foot, place the foot
  • to step (verb) - walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner
  • to stride (verb) - cover or traverse by taking long steps
  • to stride (verb) - walk with long steps

3. the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down.

step

Example:
  • “he walked with unsteady steps”
step is a type of:
types of step:
  • footstep (noun) - the act of taking a step in walking
  • pace, stride, tread (noun) - a step in walking or running
  • pas (noun) - (ballet) a step in dancing (especially in classical ballet)
  • sidestep (noun) - a step to one side (as in boxing or dancing)
  • trip (noun) - a light or nimble tread
step is derivationally related to:
  • to pace, step (verb) - measure (distances) by pacing
  • to step (verb) - shift or move by taking a step
  • to step, tread (verb) - put down or press the foot, place the foot
  • to step (verb) - walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner
  • to step (verb) - move with one's feet in a specific manner

4. support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway.

step, stair

Example:
  • “he paused on the bottom step”
step is a type of:
  • support (noun) - any device that bears the weight of another thing
types of step:
step is a part of:
  • stairway, staircase (noun) - a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
parts of step:
  • riser (noun) - structural member consisting of the vertical part of a stair or step
  • tread (noun) - structural member consisting of the horizontal part of a stair or step
step is derivationally related to:
  • to step (verb) - furnish with steps

5. relative position in a graded series.

gradation, step

Examples:
  • “always a step behind”,
  • “subtle gradations in color”,
  • “keep in step with the fashions”
step is a type of:
  • rank (noun) - relative status
types of step:
  • cut (noun) - a step on some scale
step is derivationally related to:

6. a short distance.

step, stone's throw

Example:
  • “it's only a step to the drugstore”
step is a type of:
step is derivationally related to:
  • to pace, step (verb) - measure (distances) by pacing

7. the sound of a step of someone walking.

footfall, footstep, step

Example:
  • “he heard footsteps on the porch”
step is a type of:
  • sound (noun) - the sudden occurrence of an audible event
types of step:
  • tramp (noun) - a heavy footfall
step is derivationally related to:
  • to step (verb) - shift or move by taking a step
  • to step (verb) - move with one's feet in a specific manner

8. a musical interval of two semitones.

tone, whole tone, step, whole step

step is a type of:

9. a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface.

footprint, footmark, step

Example:
  • “the police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window”
step is a type of:
  • mark, print (noun) - a visible indication made on a surface
types of step:
step is derivationally related to:
  • to step, tread (verb) - put down or press the foot, place the foot

10. a solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed.

step

step is a type of:
  • block (noun) - a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
step is derivationally related to:
  • to step (verb) - place (a ship's mast) in its step

11. a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance.

dance step, step

Example:
  • “he taught them the waltz step”
step is a type of:
types of step:
  • chasse, sashay (noun) - (ballet) quick gliding steps with one foot always leading
  • glissade (noun) - (ballet) a gliding or sliding step in ballet
  • moonwalk (noun) - a kind of dance step in which the dancer seems to be sliding on the spot
step is a part of:
  • step dancing, hoofing (noun) - dancing in which the steps are more important than gestures or postures

Verb (10 meanings)

1. shift or move by taking a step.

to step

Example:
  • “step back”
to step is a way to:
ways to step:
  • to backpedal (verb) - step backwards, in boxing
to step is derivationally related to:
see also:
  • to step out (verb) - go outside a room or building for a short period of time

2. put down or press the foot, place the foot.

to step, tread

Examples:
  • “For fools rush in where angels fear to tread”,
  • “step on the brake”
to step is a way to:
ways to step:
to step is derivationally related to:

3. cause (a computer) to execute a single command.

to step

to step is a way to:
  • to run, execute (verb) - carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine

4. treat badly.

to mistreat, maltreat, abuse, ill-use, step, ill-treat

Examples:
  • “This boss abuses his workers”,
  • “She is always stepping on others to get ahead”
to step is a way to:
ways to step:
to step is derivationally related to:

5. furnish with steps.

to step

Example:
  • “The architect wants to step the terrace”
to step is a way to:
to step is derivationally related to:
  • step, stair (noun) - support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
Domain of synset - TOPIC:
  • architecture (noun) - the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for their esthetic effect

6. move with one's feet in a specific manner.

to step

Example:
  • “step lively”
to step is a way to:
to step is derivationally related to:
  • footfall, footstep, step (noun) - the sound of a step of someone walking
  • step (noun) - the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down

7. walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner.

to step

Example:
  • “step over to the blackboard”
to step is a way to:
  • to walk (verb) - use one's feet to advance
to step is derivationally related to:
  • footstep, pace, step, stride (noun) - the distance covered by a step
  • step (noun) - the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down

8. place (a ship's mast) in its step.

to step

to step is a way to:
to step is derivationally related to:
  • step (noun) - a solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed

9. measure (distances) by pacing.

to pace, step

Example:
  • “step off ten yards”
to step is a way to:
to step is derivationally related to:
  • yard, pace (noun) - a unit of length equal to 3 feet

10. move or proceed as if by steps into a new situation.

to step

Examples:
  • “She stepped into a life of luxury”,
  • “he won't step into his father's footsteps”
to step is a way to:
  • to move (verb) - go or proceed from one point to another